The Liverpool manager joined Mourinho at Stamford Bridge as youth boss in 2004 during the self-proclaimed special one's first spell with the Blues.

Rodgers, 41, left after Mourinho had departed but is forever grateful to the Portuguese boss for the impact he has had on his career.

The pair have remained close ever since and Mourinho even text Rodgers in 2012 to tell him to take the Liverpool job.

Rodgers' does not think Mourinho will regret sending that text, but the Chelsea boss will never have expected to cross paths with his protégé in the title race so soon.

While their footballing philosophies now appear much different, the pair still have plenty in common - including the fact neither had glittering playing careers but still managed to become top managers.

And watching Mourinho turn Chelsea from also-rans into back-to-back Premier League winners was something that helped build his own desire for success.

He said: "When I first arrived at Chelsea I was 10 years as a youth coach, I arrived there as an academy director so I had gone through lots of roles and I had a vision and philosophy well in place.

"I was asked to go to Chelsea to implement that with some of the top youngsters coming through in Britain and Europe - they saw me as someone with a European philosophy.

"I arrived working there with a guy who was a winner but he didn't have the protection of being a big player to get his opportunity.

"He had to go down a different route and what I got from him was the confidence that you can become a leader in your field by doing that.

HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE A WINNER: Rodgers has admitted he leaned a lot from Mourinho including how to be a winner [PA]

“Our ideas on football weren't exactly the same but I seen how he dealt with players, how he gained respect from players and like every manager I have ever worked with I have taken the good and the bad to learn”

Brendan Rodgers

"He was exactly 10 years old than me, he was 40 I was 30, and I saw someone who had been on a journey that maybe I could go on.

"Our ideas on football weren't exactly the same but I seen how he dealt with players, how he gained respect from players and like every manager I have ever worked with I have taken the good and the bad to learn."

Another trait that Rodgers picked up from Mourinho was a tireless work ethic that continues to serve both men well.

He said: "I got from him that you can be super professional. His day didn't finish at 1.30pm.

"If you work hard you can get your rewards and he worked tirelessly all his life. That is what we have to do and if you want to sustain it at the top level."

Liverpool need just seven points from their final three games to secure their first title in 24 years and a win tomorrow for the Reds will put Chelsea out of the race.

As the two friends go toe-to-toe in a titanic title tussle, there is the chance tensions could flare up despite their relationship.

Mourinho despised Liverpool during his first reign at Stamford Bridge partly down to the fact the Reds ruined his Champions League dream in 2005 when they dumped the Blues out of the semi-finals.

He also had little patience for former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez who was in the Anfield hotseat at the time, but Rodgers is sure he will still be able to share a glass of wine with his friend tomorrow afternoon.

He added: "The advantage I have is that i know Jose behind the manager, a man who is humble, respectful, real good values and ethics but he is a winner and he wants to win.

"I have never ever thought that it [the rivalry] would fracture [the relationship]because I never get personal. This is about my job, my club and I protect Liverpool."